Engine-starter.



L. S. TUTTLE.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. 1907.

902,350. Patented 0@1-,.27,190s.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A Tron/v5 rs W/TNESSES L. S. TUTTLE.

, ENGINE STARTER. APPLICATION TILED APR. 1-1. 1907.

Patented Oct. 27,1908;

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WITNESSES LOUIS S. TUTTLE, OF EASTPORT, NEW YORK.

ENGINE-STARTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 11, 1907.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908;

Serial No. 367,498.

To all whom 'it may concern.

Be it known that I, LOUIS S. TUTTLE, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Eastport, in the county of Suffolk and State of New York,have invented a new and Improved Engine-Starter, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of this invention is the provision of a hand-operatedstarting device for internal combustion engines, in which danger whilecranking the engine due to backfiring, will be eliminated. With this inview I have constructed a novel form of crank, which automaticallyoperates to release the driven shaft or other mechanism for driving theengine should the engine back-fire, and to be ejected therefrom as theengine starts in the proper direction under the influence of its motiveagent.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a central, longitudinal section through one form of myinvention; Fig. 2 is a section of the same on the line 22 of Fig. 1.;Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a frontface view of the crank with the front face-plate removed and the handlein section; Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4L but showing theparts in a position as when the crank is released by the back-fire ofthe engine; Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 66 of Fig. 4, Fig. 7is a view corresponding to Fig. 4 of a modified form of my invention,and Fig. '8 is a fragmentary view of the crank showing it connected withthe clutch, which drives the engine shaft, through the intermediary ofan auxiliary shaft.

In the preferred construction of my improved starter, I employ a crank10, comprising front and rear face-plates 11 and 12, respectively, whichare spaced apart by flanges 13 and 13 at opposite edges, and securedtogether through bolt openings 14; or in any other desired manner. Theflanges 13, as shownin Figs. 1 and 5, fall short of the lower ends ofthe plates 11 and 12, leaving an open space therebetween for thereceptionofa cam 15, rigidly fixed to a sleeve 16, the latter beingjournaled in the faceplates :and extended beyond the plate 1 2, where itis provided with a clutch end 17 which is adapted to engage with across-pin 18 passing transversely through a shaft 19, said shaftrepresenting the driving shaft of the engine or other shaft connectedthereto.

Slidably mounted in the crank 10 is a bolt 20, closely embraced andguided by the faceplates and flanges at both its upper and lower ends,and constructed with a beveled lower extremity 21, adapted to beprojected into the path of a flattened face 22, formed on the cam 15,this construction adapting the cam to automatically force the boltupwardly when impelled in one direction, the

cam being restrained from moving in the opposite direction with respectto the crank when in the position shown in Fig. 4, by a pin '23 bestshown in Fig. 3, slidably mounted in a recess in-one face of the cam andnormally pressed outwardly by a spring 24. This pin is adapted to beprojected into a groove 25 formed in the face-plate 12 and having aninclined bottom for forcing the pin within the cam as the latterrevolves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5.

The upper ends of the flanges 13 and 13 and the face-plate 11, areremoved for receiving a roller 26 which is journaled on a spindle 27connected to the face-plate 12, said spindle being extended beyond theroller and having journaled thereon a handie 28 for operating the crank.As shown in Fig. 1, the outer extremity of the spindle 27 receiveslock-nuts 29, which are inclosed by a cap 30 carried by the handle 28.The abutting ends of the roller 26 and handle 28 are provided with aratchet connection, consisting of spring-pressed pins 31 slidablymounted in equally spaced recesses in the roller 26 and normally forcedoutwardly therefrom by springs 32. The adjacent end of the handle 28 isformed with equally spaced wedgeshaped depressions '33 differlng innumber by one from the pins '31, whereby a differential engagementbetween these two parts is obtained. This ratchet prevents any relativerevolution between the handle and roller in one direction, but adm-itsof their free independent revolutionin the opposite direction.

A latch 34 is carried by the upper end of the bolt 20, with which it hasa limited pivotal movement from a vertical position in the direction ofthe flange 13, this pivotal movement being preferably effected byconstructing the latch with an enlarged cylindrical head 35 revolublymounted in a corresponding recess formed in the end of the bolt. Thelatch 34 is provided with a thumb-piece 36, which passes through theopening formed by the removed upper end of the fiange 13, said latchbeing pressed against an adjusting screw 37 by a flat spring 38, thescrew 37 which passes through the flange 13 being so adjusted as toretain the latch when pressed by the spring, in substantially axialalinement with the bolt. By this construction it is apparent onadjusting the screw 37 the pressure required on the bolt 20 to releasethe latch may be varied. As best shown in Fig. 1, the bolt 20 is formedwith a slot 39 in its outer face, which receives a lug 40 formed on theinner face of the plate 11, acting to limit the sliding movement of thebolt within the crank.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified form of my invention, in which thelatch 34: is replaced by a link 3% which is pivotally connected to boththe bolt 20 and the roller 26, the remaining construction being the sameas that described and shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 8 illustrates a slightly different manner of connecting the crankwith the engine shaft clutch. In this form of my invention, the thimble16 which is integral with the cam 15, is flush with both faces of thecrank and receives an auxiliary shaft 16", the latter being connected tothe cam and thimble in any suitable manner as by the pin shown and hasrigidly fixed to its opposite end a clutch member 17.

In the operation of the crank for starting the engine, it is applied tothe starting shaft as illustrated in Fig. 1. The handle 28 is thengrasped and revolved to start the en gine, the roller 26 remainingstationary on the handle spindle by reason of the ratchet connectionbetween the roller and handle, in the present case the direction ofrotation being to the right. Should the engine backfire while the crankis being driven, the resistance ofiered by the roller 26 to the latch 34will be overcome by the cam 15 acting on the bolt 20, and the latch willbe thrown to one side by the revolution of the roller, the cam 15 at thesame time operating to push the bolt 20 out of its path and thus permitthe shaft 19 to revolve independently of the crank 10, in the directionof the arrow indicated in Fig. 5. The bolt 20 is again pushed back intothe cam 15, by pressing on the thumb-piece 36 with the thumb of the handused in grasping the handle 28. When the engine is started in the properdirection under the action of the crank, the crank is ejected from thestarting shaft by the pin 18 operating on the spiral faces of theclutchend of the sleeve 16. It is thus seen that the crank is releasedfrom the engine when the latter is driven in either direction by itsmotive agent.

It is evident that the construction as hereinbefore described may bewidely varied without departing from the spirit of my invention; and Iconsider that I am entitled to such modifications as fall within thescope of the annexed claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. In a starting device for internal combustion engines, the combinationof a crank provided with a handle and having means adapted to engagewith a shaft in starting the engine, a bolt slidably mounted on thecrank for looking it to said means, and means normally engaging the saidhandle adapted to automatically release the bolt from said first-namedmeans when the resistance of the shaft to the crank reaches apredetermined point.

2. In a starting device for internal combustion engines, the combinationof a crank, means carried by the crank adapted to engage with a shaft instarting the engine, a bolt slidable within the crank for locking saidmeans, a handle for revolving the crank, and revoluble means carried bythe handle cooperating with means carried by the bolt, for releasing thebolt from said first-named means when the resistance of the shaft to thecrank reaches a predetermined point.

3. In a starting device for internal combustion engines, a crank, aclutch journaled in the crank, a cam carried by the clutch, a boltslidably mounted on the crank adapted to be projected into the path ofthe cam, a handle for the crank, revoluble means carried by the handle,and means pivotally connected to the bolt cooperating with saidrevoluble means for locking the bolt in position.

4-. In a starting device for internal combustion engines, a crank havinga handle adapted to revolve a shaft, and means for automaticallyreleasing the crank from the shaft when the resistance of the shaftreaches a predetermined point, said means including a revoluble memberhaving a ratchet connection with the handle.

5. In a starting device for internal combustion engines, a crank havinga handle adapted to revolve a shaft, and means for automaticallyreleasing the .crank from the shaft when the resistance of the shaftreaches a predetermined point, said means including a revoluble memberhaving a differential ratchet connection with the handle.

6. A crank having means adapted to engage a shaft and revolve it in onedirection, means including a pivoted latch for releasing the crank whenthe resistance of the shaft reaches a predetermined point, and means foradjusting said latch, whereby the crank will be released from the shaftat different resistances.

7. In a starting device for internal combustion engines, the combinationof a crank having a handle, a sleeve j ournaled in the crank having aclutch face, a cam carried by the sleeve Within the crank, a bolt in thecrank adapted to slide in the path of the cam, a revoluble membercarried by the handle, and means carried by the bolt in normalengagement with the inner face of said member for locking the bolt inplace.

8. In a starting device for internal combustion engines, the combinationof a crank having a handle, means journaled in the crank adapted toengage and revolve a shaft, a cam carried by said means within thecrank, a bolt in the crank slidable in the path of the cam for lockingit against movement in one direction, means carried by the cam forlocking it against movement in the opposite direction when engaged withsaid bolt, a revoluble member carried by the handle, and means carriedby the bolt in engagement with said member for locking the bolt inplace.

9. In a starting device for internal combustion engines, the combinationof a crank having a handle revoluble thereon and adapted to revolve ashaft in starting the engine, means for automatically ejecting the crankfrom the shaft as the engine starts in one direction, and meansdependent on the revolution of the handle on the crank for releasing thecrank from the shaft when the engine starts in the opposite direction.

10. In a starting device for internal combustion engines, thecombination of a crank having a handle revoluble thereon, a device onwhich the crank is journaled, means for preventing the relative rotationin one direction between said device and crank, whereby they are adaptedto revolve a shaft in one direction in starting the engine, meansdependent on the revolution of the handle on the crank for releasing thecrank from said device when the engine starts in one direction, wherebythe device and shaft may revolve independently of the crank, and meansfor ejecting the crank and device from the shaft when the engine startsin the opposite direction.

11. The combination of a device for engaging a shaft, a crank journaledon said device, a cam fixed to the device, a bolt carried by the crankadapted to be projected into the path of the cam and prevent rotation ofthe crank on the device in one direction, and independent means carriedby the cam adapted to engage with the crank and prevent rotation thereofon the device in the opposite direction.

12. The combination of a sleeve, a crank journaled on the sleeve, a camfixed to the sleeve having a flattened face, a bolt carried by the crankhaving a beveled extremity adapted to be projected into the path of theflattened face of the cam and prevent rotation of the crank on thesleeve in one direction, and means carried by the cam adapted to engagewith the crank and prevent rotation thereof on the sleeve in theopposite direction.

13. The combination of a device for engaging a shaft, a crank journaledon the device having a groove provided with an inclined bottom, a camfixed to the device having a spring-pressed pin adapted to engage saidgroove and prevent rotation of the crank on the device in one direction,and a bolt carried by the crank adapted to be projected into the path ofthe cam and prevent rotation of the crank on the device in the oppositedirection.

14. The combination of a device for engaging a shaft, a crank journaledon the device, a cam fixed to the device, a bolt carried by the crankadapted to be projected into the path of the cam and prevent rotation ofthe crank on the device in one direction, independent means forpreventing the rotation of the crank on said device in the oppositedirection, and means for releasing the bolt and permitting the movementthereof from the path of the cam when the pressure on the bolt reaches apredetermined point.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS S. TUTTLE.

Witnesses:

HENRY L. TELUER, RENssELAER B. DAYTON.

